Misericordia's Matt Greene already coaching

Sophomore, a Whitehall product, a leader on floor.

Matt Greene hit a 3-pointer during a first-half run that gave Misericordia a cushion over host DeSales in last Saturday's Freedom Conference showdown.

The Whitehall High School graduate hit two more as the Cougars rallied from a six-point deficit early in the second half.

The sophomore point guard then hit a pair of tough floaters in the lane in what was a back-and-forth game for the final 13 minutes.

Down the stretch, Greene fed post players Ethan Eichhorst and Steve Artzerounian with DeSales big men in foul trouble.

In the end, Greene made the game's defensive play with a steal and pass to Eichhorst for what turned out to be the game-winning points.

If it sounds like Greene was in the middle of everything for Misericordia, that's because he was.

That's by design.

"Matt is a really smart player," Misericordia coach Trevor Woodruff said. "He knows what we need to do at all times on the court. He knows what I want to get done."

Greene doesn't leave the court much. He played 43 of the 45 minutes in the win over DeSales, one that gave Misericordia its sixth win in a row. The Cougars stretched that streak to seven consecutive, good enough to move into sole possession of first place in the Freedom Conference standings.

When he's out there, the ball often is in his hands. That's by design. He is second in the conference in assists (3.5 per game) and first in 3-pointers (2.3 per game).

Greene's real talent is his balance between passing and shooting, chucking a trey or penetrating.

The Hokendauqua resident's skills were on display Saturday for many family members and friends.

"I knew I hit three 3s and [DeSales] was looking at me shooting the threes because that's what I like to do," he said. "I knew if I could get in the lane, that I'd keep them guessing.

"That's what I did."

Greene had just one turnover in those 43 minutes Saturday, amazing considering how much time he spent with the ball in his hands.

He is averaging 9.0 points, 3.5 assists, 2.6 rebounds, 1.0 steals and 30.7 minutes per game in 21 contests, all starts. He has committed just 38 turnovers in 645 minutes this season.

"He has a real understanding for the game," Woodruff said of his point guard. "He understands his strengths and his teammates' strengths."

Greene speaks to the Cougars' chemistry as the main reason for their successful run this season. It was a reason why he opted to leave the Lehigh Valley and head 90 minutes northwest to Misericordia two years ago.

He said he has no regrets.

"I believe in what coach Woodruff does, his coaching abilities and strategy," Greene said. "He's who I wanted to play for. It was a real easy choice."

Greene has no reservations about what he wants to do when his playing career is over.

He wants to be wearing a suit and tie, and be walking courtside while carrying a clipboard and a note card with a game plan on it.

He wants to coach.

"That's my goal," the sports management major said. "It's what I'm best at. It's what I know best. It's what I want to do the rest of my life.

"In two years, I can't give the game up. I'll be hungry for more."

Greene has had a craving for the sport most of his youth. His father, Jim, and brothers Jim and Jason were standout players at Whitehall High School.

"I was around basketball so much that I fell in love with it," Matt said.

GETTING THEIR DUE: Players' names regularly fill this space with their strong performances and unique stories.

This season, there are several coaches who are deserving of some ink. Here are three of them:

Jim Walker, Moravian: The Greyhounds are tied for second place in the Landmark Conference with three regular-season games left. Not bad for the team predicted to finish last and one that has been without a key frontcourt player for the entire season.

Scott Coval, DeSales: The Bulldogs don't have a go-to scorer on the perimeter, but several underclassmen are going to be really tough next year, including Kyle Hash, Mike Coleman and Ryan Griffin. Making the playoffs this year would be something, especially considering some of the close losses in league play and the number of injuries the team has endured.

Fred Richter, DeSales: The women don't have a go-to scorer anywhere, but can play defense with the best of them. Despite a low FG percentage, the Bulldogs never quit. They still have a chance to be five-time conference champs.